Snag Some Freebies with Amazon Samples

This post contains affiliate links.

Amazon is offering sample boxes for Prime Members – and you get the cost of the box back in credit (for a purchase of similar products) a week after the box ships! so what does that mean? Lots of free boxes if you are planning to buy from these categories anyway!


(If you are not already a Prime Member, start a Free 30-day trial).

Make sure to grab the available box quickly as they do sell out fast. Right now they have an awesome household box available. Past boxes have included:

Receive FREE Samples with Daily Goodie Box - Unboxing!

I'm a huge fan of free samples. Who isn't? They are a great way to try products without having to buy the product itself because what if you don't like? Then you are out the money AND stuck with a product in your house that you don't like. Daily Goodie Box is like a subscription box. They send you a box of free goodies and all you do is tell them what you think through reviews. Shipping is  always free and there is no credit card required.

FREE Samples - Daily Goodie Box Unboxing

I was asked to an unboxing of one of their boxes. And here's what I received in my box:

How to Get FREE Samples with the PINCHme Subscription Box

I am a PINCHme Blogger Member. I received complimentary products as such. All opinions and my love for FREE samples are all my own!

How to Get FREE Samples with the PINCHme Subscription Box

Have you heard of PINCHme? PINCHme is a free monthly subscription box which allows members to try free samples in exchange for their feedback! They offer a range of products including beauty, food, household, personal care, baby, pet, and more. Shipping is free too! Before I was invited to a part of the PINCHme blogger network, I have been using this site for a while. Here is what was in my box, but the FULL unboxing video is below!

Tips to Save Money on Baby






You just found out you are pregnant, CONGRATS! Now what? You realize that there is just one thing after another that a baby needs but how to pay for it all? Here are my tips to save money on baby.


Nursing Pillow1. Breastfeed
My TOP Tip for saving money with a baby is breastfeeding. No wasting anything, no cleaning anything. Even after breast pads (which Udder Covers sells a variety of reusable ones), cream, and a nursing cover (FREE Nursing Cover from Udder Covers with code BABYSAVINGS, just pay S&H), you still pay less than formula. If you need to pump, go through your insurance to get one. A law was just passed so you should be able to get a hospital grade quality pump completely free! Having supply issues? Try this Supply Boosting Cookie Recipe.
Although I am a very strong breastfeeding advocate, I do realize that it's not for everyone and sometimes you need to supplement and formula is expensive. Here are some well known formula makers, that you can sign up for email updates, along with money saving coupons and checks, they will sometimes send you samples. :)

2. Cloth Diaper
Okay I am going to be honest. I never cloth diapered. I did see a ton of benefits, except the extra laundry which meant more of my time. And being a full time mom, plus taking care of my friend's daughter, AND now being a Professional Blogger, I feel my time is valuable. Now I am NOT saying that people who cloth diaper don't value their time. This is just the reason I didn't BUT saying all that, I am seriously considering it with my next baby.
The up front cost is what is so hard to swallow. My friend found this site called Alvababy.com that sells cloth diapers for $5!!!
Now, again, I understand that clothing diapering isn't for everyone, so I suggest looking into the following retailers for possible coupons or samples. Also there are a TON of printable coupons online as well.
Huggies, Pampers (save points through their Gifts To Grow program and get cool stuff, like FREE Shutterfly products). Thing to remember when buying diapers is, the bigger the diaper, the fewer in the package, so make absolutely sure before you move up a size. And remember nothing is wrong with store brand, test them out, they may work for you. And if you are couponing, buy in BULK. Tape the receipt to the box, so you can exchange them if need be.

Tips to Save Money on Baby - Make Your Own Baby Food3. Make Your OWN Baby Food
I made about half of Sweet Pea's baby food. I had a food processor that got shocked during a lightning storm, even though we have surge protectors. PLUS I found jar baby food to be easier when we were on the go. But of course even that didn't make the task any easier. Invest in a good food processor and you're good to go. Make a TON and then freeze it.
Not into Homemade Baby Food? I signed up with Beechnut (who send you a welcome package for what ever stage your child enters) and Earth's Best. I also contacted HappyBaby who sent me free samples and coupons to try their products. Of course I love Buddy Fruits as well. Look in to ingredients with whatever baby food you choose.


4. Make Your OWN Baby Clothes
Okay I never did this, but I LOVE Pinterest and look at the most adorable things I have found:
Turn Old T-Shirts into Baby Sacks
Old Shirts into Dress
No Sew Onesie Make-Over
Those are just some ideas. You can also cut old onesies, hem it, and make them into shirts. Also look into garment extenders. There also a TON of online sites I love that sell baby clothes really cheap, including: Totsy, ThredUp (like new, used clothes), Zulily, and WittleBee. Another great way to save money on baby clothes is to shop consignment shops or yard sales. My mother-in-law did this for us. Our crib AND changing table were practically new and she only paid $150 for both! So deals are to be had and don't be afraid to haggle. Also there are some online sites where you can exchange stuff, like TheBump's Swap Spot board, SwapMamas.com, there are multiple Facebook groups, or if you feel like risking it, Craig's List. I have had a lot of luck with TheBump and SwapMamas! ALSO, don't snub your nose at sales racks. There is nothing wrong with your baby wearing last year's fashion when you are on a budget!

5. Everything Can Be a Toy
Boxes, pots, and pans; OH MY! My daughters FAVORITE toys are not the ones we intended for her. Although she loves her Sophie the Giraffe, is that a practical toy for the mom and dad who are on a budget to buy? Not really. Pans with plastic spoons are musical instruments. I also love Coffee mate containers filled with dry beans. They are BPA-free and make a great rattle!

6. Baby Gear is Expensive
Free is nice, but there are some things that are just going to be expensive because safety is more valuable in the long run. Car Seats are something you should NOT get used because you don't know if it was in a car accident. And even cheap ones can run between $60 to $100. If you don't get one as a baby shower gift, just remember, even the cheap ones have to meet the same standards according to government regulation as the higher end ones. You can read more about Car Seat Safety HERE.

7. Don't Waste Money on NON-Essentials
Poor new, first time parents. We fall for the gimmicks left and right of things we MUST register for and buy to have everything ready for baby. I have found that a diaper changing pad on top of a dresser, can not only save money but also save space. And don't buy expensive crib bedding sets, the Consumer Product Safety Administration AND the American Academy of Pediatrics advise against thick comforters and crib bumpers. So why are they still sold like that? Beats me. But all you need is a fitted sheet and a thin blanket. You also don't NEED a wipe warmer either. Be practical and do your research. Don't register for it but if you get it as a gift just say, "Thank You". And just ask for the gift receipt later. :D

I hope you found this list helpful. And for the experienced parent's out there, what tips do you have to save money on baby?





FREEbie Friday - Black Friday Style



There are some AWESOME deals going online today. As I mentioned earlier, I am a Cyber Monday kind of girl but what I love about these deals is that I don't have to wait until Monday to get these ONLINE! That means no claustrophobia flare ups for me! ;)

Grab your freebies while you can because they will either sell out or end before you know.

Okay so what freebies are you scoring today? I know I am headed to Babies-R-Us on Saturday but I think today I am going to grab some gifts for SIL and then buy some baby clothes. I bummed I didn't have a car and missed the sheet sale at Walmart But I have extreme issues with crowds.

My questions for you, are you a Black Friday or Cyber Monday kind of shopper? What deals do you plan on trying to score or did score today?
 
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FREEbie Friday: A Weekly Round-Up




 
So it's FRIDAY! YAY! You know what that means, another weekly rendition of FREEbie FRIDAY! Aren't you excited! Because I am! That means I get to go shopping today! Woot, woot! LOL Sorry I'm a dork. Anyways in the next week or so, you will be getting random postings of my savings because I will be stocking up for FLORIDA! That's right, we leave for vacation on the 22nd! I'm so excited.

 
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